José Antonio Campal, co-director of Bernabé Campal and a familiar figure in Salamanca’s agri-food industry, died Saturday in a motorcycle accident near Vitoria-Gasteiz. He was 54. Campal was returning from a road trip across Europe with his brother Pedro and a friend, who were also on motorcycles, when the crash happened at the AP-1 exit toward the N-622. Emergency services arrived quickly but could not revive him. The accident occurred around 12:40 p.m. and is under investigation by the Álava Traffic Unit of the Ertzaintza.
Campal’s death has shaken the business community and rural Salamanca. Huerta Mayor José María Casado called the news a devastating blow for the area. Local media, including La Gaceta de Salamanca and El Español, reported when and where the accident happened, as well as Campal’s age.
Local reports say the Campal family is well known in Huerta and Las Villas, with longstanding ties to both communities.
Based in Huerta, Bernabé Campal is one of the largest agri-food companies in Salamanca and Castilla y León. Led by José Antonio and his brother, the company operates more than 18 storage centers and works directly with farmers across Spain and Portugal. Annual revenues exceed 400 million euros, and the company holds over 3.5% of the national market. Noticias a Tiempo and other regional outlets have reported these figures.
Earlier this year, CEOE CEPYME Salamanca recognized Bernabé Campal for its contribution to the primary sector and job creation, while also citing its impact on regional development. Both brothers accepted the award, which recognized the company’s contribution to the local economy. The Campal name is closely tied to agricultural progress and business in Salamanca.
Campal’s death came at a particularly poignant time. Salamanca is in the middle of its Ferias y Fiestas in honor of the Virgen de la Vega, usually a time of celebration. Instead, the city and province are in mourning, as business and institutional leaders send condolences. Javier Iglesias, president of the Diputación de Salamanca, described Campal as a pillar of the local agri-food sector and a man deeply committed to the province’s future.
Campal was returning from several days of travel across Europe with his brother Pedro and a friend, who were also riding motorcycles. The Ertzaintza’s traffic division is investigating the accident. Several regional media outlets have reported the basic circumstances and ongoing inquiry.
Noticias a Tiempo
On Sunday, relatives and other visitors, including friends and colleagues, came steadily to pay their respects at the San Carlos Borromeo funeral home in Salamanca. The funeral is set for Tuesday, though its location has not been made public. Campal’s death is a personal loss for his family and a impressive moment for the region’s agricultural and business communities.
Bernabé Campal’s growth over the past two decades reflects changes in Spain’s agri-food sector. Companies like it have helped modernize rural economies through new technology, while also expanding international trade. Its direct work with farmers and operations in Portugal show a model of regional integration that has become more impressive for Spanish agriculture. The support shown after Campal’s death points to the close ties between business leaders and local identity in rural Spain.
